diff --git a/src/aws.cpp b/src/aws.cpp
index 4f2cf3e0..12ba1a89 100644
--- a/src/aws.cpp
+++ b/src/aws.cpp
@@ -158,6 +158,10 @@ unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> AWSInput::ExecuteRequest(ClientContext &context, Aws::H
 	return result;
 }
 
+unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> AWSInput::HeadRequest(ClientContext &context) {
+	return ExecuteRequest(context, Aws::Http::HttpMethod::HTTP_HEAD);
+}
+
 unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> AWSInput::GetRequest(ClientContext &context) {
 	return ExecuteRequest(context, Aws::Http::HttpMethod::HTTP_GET);
 }
diff --git a/src/catalog_api.cpp b/src/catalog_api.cpp
index 87979931..d6dd0aae 100644
--- a/src/catalog_api.cpp
+++ b/src/catalog_api.cpp
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 using namespace duckdb_yyjson;
 namespace duckdb {
 
-vector<string> IRCAPI::ParseSchemaName(string &namespace_name) {
+vector<string> IRCAPI::ParseSchemaName(const string &namespace_name) {
 	idx_t start = 0;
 	idx_t end = namespace_name.find(".", start);
 	vector<string> ret;
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ string IRCAPI::GetSchemaName(const vector<string> &items) {
 
 //! Used for the path parameters
 string IRCAPI::GetEncodedSchemaName(const vector<string> &items) {
+	D_ASSERT(!items.empty());
 	static const string unit_separator = "%1F";
 	return StringUtil::Join(items, unit_separator);
 }
@@ -63,6 +64,47 @@ string IRCAPI::GetEncodedSchemaName(const vector<string> &items) {
 	                    int(response.status));
 }
 
+bool IRCAPI::VerifySchemaExistence(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog, const string &schema) {
+	auto namespace_items = ParseSchemaName(schema);
+	auto schema_name = GetEncodedSchemaName(namespace_items);
+
+	auto url_builder = catalog.GetBaseUrl();
+	url_builder.AddPathComponent(catalog.prefix);
+	url_builder.AddPathComponent("namespaces");
+	url_builder.AddPathComponent(schema_name);
+
+	auto url = url_builder.GetURL();
+	try {
+		auto response = catalog.auth_handler->HeadRequest(context, url_builder);
+		if (response->Success() || response->status == HTTPStatusCode::NoContent_204) {
+			return true;
+		}
+		return false;
+	} catch (std::exception &ex) {
+		//! For some reason this API likes to throw, instead of just returning a response with an error
+		return false;
+	}
+}
+
+bool IRCAPI::VerifyTableExistence(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog, const IRCSchemaEntry &schema,
+                                  const string &table) {
+	auto schema_name = GetEncodedSchemaName(schema.namespace_items);
+
+	auto url_builder = catalog.GetBaseUrl();
+	url_builder.AddPathComponent(catalog.prefix);
+	url_builder.AddPathComponent("namespaces");
+	url_builder.AddPathComponent(schema_name);
+	url_builder.AddPathComponent("tables");
+	url_builder.AddPathComponent(table);
+
+	auto url = url_builder.GetURL();
+	auto response = catalog.auth_handler->HeadRequest(context, url_builder);
+	if (response->Success() || response->status == HTTPStatusCode::NoContent_204) {
+		return true;
+	}
+	return false;
+}
+
 static string GetTableMetadata(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog, const IRCSchemaEntry &schema,
                                const string &table) {
 	auto schema_name = IRCAPI::GetEncodedSchemaName(schema.namespace_items);
@@ -80,21 +122,15 @@ static string GetTableMetadata(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog, const
 		ThrowException(url, *response, "GET");
 	}
 
-	const auto &api_result = response->body;
-	std::unique_ptr<yyjson_doc, YyjsonDocDeleter> doc(ICUtils::api_result_to_doc(api_result));
-	auto *root = yyjson_doc_get_root(doc.get());
-	auto load_table_result = rest_api_objects::LoadTableResult::FromJSON(root);
-	catalog.SetCachedValue(url, api_result, load_table_result);
-	return api_result;
+	return response->body;
 }
 
 rest_api_objects::LoadTableResult IRCAPI::GetTable(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog,
                                                    const IRCSchemaEntry &schema, const string &table_name) {
-	string result = GetTableMetadata(context, catalog, schema, table_name);
+	auto result = GetTableMetadata(context, catalog, schema, table_name);
 	std::unique_ptr<yyjson_doc, YyjsonDocDeleter> doc(ICUtils::api_result_to_doc(result));
 	auto *metadata_root = yyjson_doc_get_root(doc.get());
-	auto load_table_result = rest_api_objects::LoadTableResult::FromJSON(metadata_root);
-	return load_table_result;
+	return rest_api_objects::LoadTableResult::FromJSON(metadata_root);
 }
 
 vector<rest_api_objects::TableIdentifier> IRCAPI::GetTables(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog,
diff --git a/src/common/api_utils.cpp b/src/common/api_utils.cpp
index 535af527..23974238 100644
--- a/src/common/api_utils.cpp
+++ b/src/common/api_utils.cpp
@@ -100,4 +100,25 @@ unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> APIUtils::GetRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCE
 	return http_util.Request(get_request);
 }
 
+unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> APIUtils::HeadRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder,
+                                               const string &token) {
+	auto &db = DatabaseInstance::GetDatabase(context);
+
+	HTTPHeaders headers(db);
+	headers.Insert("X-Iceberg-Access-Delegation", "vended-credentials");
+	if (!token.empty()) {
+		headers.Insert("Authorization", StringUtil::Format("Bearer %s", token));
+	}
+
+	auto &http_util = HTTPUtil::Get(db);
+	unique_ptr<HTTPParams> params;
+
+	string request_url = AddHttpHostIfMissing(endpoint_builder.GetURL());
+
+	params = http_util.InitializeParameters(context, request_url);
+
+	HeadRequestInfo head_request(request_url, headers, *params);
+	return http_util.Request(head_request);
+}
+
 } // namespace duckdb
diff --git a/src/include/api_utils.hpp b/src/include/api_utils.hpp
index 2ecd0679..ade406dd 100644
--- a/src/include/api_utils.hpp
+++ b/src/include/api_utils.hpp
@@ -35,6 +35,8 @@ class APIUtils {
 public:
 	static unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> GetRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder,
 	                                           const string &token = "");
+	static unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> HeadRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder,
+	                                            const string &token = "");
 	static unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> DeleteRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder,
 	                                              const string &token = "");
 	static unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> PostRequest(ClientContext &context, const string &url, const string &post_data,
diff --git a/src/include/aws.hpp b/src/include/aws.hpp
index e24db3c6..7e7d3c6f 100644
--- a/src/include/aws.hpp
+++ b/src/include/aws.hpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ class AWSInput {
 
 public:
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> GetRequest(ClientContext &context);
+	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> HeadRequest(ClientContext &context);
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> DeleteRequest(ClientContext &context);
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> PostRequest(ClientContext &context, string post_body);
 
diff --git a/src/include/catalog_api.hpp b/src/include/catalog_api.hpp
index adc5e94c..4e0af997 100644
--- a/src/include/catalog_api.hpp
+++ b/src/include/catalog_api.hpp
@@ -23,11 +23,14 @@ struct IRCAPISchema {
 class IRCAPI {
 public:
 	static const string API_VERSION_1;
-	static vector<string> ParseSchemaName(string &namespace_name);
-	static string GetSchemaName(const vector<string> &items);
-	static string GetEncodedSchemaName(const vector<string> &items);
 	static vector<rest_api_objects::TableIdentifier> GetTables(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog,
 	                                                           const IRCSchemaEntry &schema);
+	static bool VerifySchemaExistence(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog, const string &schema);
+	static bool VerifyTableExistence(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog, const IRCSchemaEntry &schema,
+	                                 const string &table);
+	static vector<string> ParseSchemaName(const string &namespace_name);
+	static string GetSchemaName(const vector<string> &items);
+	static string GetEncodedSchemaName(const vector<string> &items);
 	static rest_api_objects::LoadTableResult GetTable(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog,
 	                                                  const IRCSchemaEntry &schema, const string &table_name);
 	static vector<IRCAPISchema> GetSchemas(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog, const vector<string> &parent);
diff --git a/src/include/storage/authorization/none.hpp b/src/include/storage/authorization/none.hpp
index e65d23f0..0c608af4 100644
--- a/src/include/storage/authorization/none.hpp
+++ b/src/include/storage/authorization/none.hpp
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ class NoneAuthorization : public IRCAuthorization {
 public:
 	static unique_ptr<IRCAuthorization> FromAttachOptions(IcebergAttachOptions &input);
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> GetRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) override;
+	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> HeadRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) override;
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> DeleteRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) override;
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> PostRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder,
 	                                     const string &body) override;
diff --git a/src/include/storage/authorization/oauth2.hpp b/src/include/storage/authorization/oauth2.hpp
index 9baff0a1..89158b41 100644
--- a/src/include/storage/authorization/oauth2.hpp
+++ b/src/include/storage/authorization/oauth2.hpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class OAuth2Authorization : public IRCAuthorization {
 public:
 	static unique_ptr<OAuth2Authorization> FromAttachOptions(ClientContext &context, IcebergAttachOptions &input);
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> GetRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) override;
+	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> HeadRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) override;
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> DeleteRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) override;
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> PostRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder,
 	                                     const string &body) override;
diff --git a/src/include/storage/authorization/sigv4.hpp b/src/include/storage/authorization/sigv4.hpp
index bbae9783..09474e6f 100644
--- a/src/include/storage/authorization/sigv4.hpp
+++ b/src/include/storage/authorization/sigv4.hpp
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ class SIGV4Authorization : public IRCAuthorization {
 public:
 	static unique_ptr<IRCAuthorization> FromAttachOptions(IcebergAttachOptions &input);
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> GetRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) override;
+	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> HeadRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) override;
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> DeleteRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) override;
 	unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> PostRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder,
 	                                     const string &body) override;
diff --git a/src/include/storage/irc_authorization.hpp b/src/include/storage/irc_authorization.hpp
index cac83473..335220db 100644
--- a/src/include/storage/irc_authorization.hpp
+++ b/src/include/storage/irc_authorization.hpp
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ struct IRCAuthorization {
 
 public:
 	virtual unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> GetRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) = 0;
+	virtual unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> HeadRequest(ClientContext &context,
+	                                             const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) = 0;
 	virtual unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> DeleteRequest(ClientContext &context,
 	                                               const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) = 0;
 	virtual unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> PostRequest(ClientContext &context, const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder,
diff --git a/src/include/storage/irc_schema_entry.hpp b/src/include/storage/irc_schema_entry.hpp
index dd65b279..71e536cd 100644
--- a/src/include/storage/irc_schema_entry.hpp
+++ b/src/include/storage/irc_schema_entry.hpp
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #include "catalog_api.hpp"
 #include "duckdb/catalog/catalog_entry/schema_catalog_entry.hpp"
 #include "storage/irc_table_set.hpp"
+#include "duckdb/common/enums/on_entry_not_found.hpp"
 
 namespace duckdb {
 class IRCTransaction;
diff --git a/src/include/storage/irc_schema_set.hpp b/src/include/storage/irc_schema_set.hpp
index ddb52688..dca8c65d 100644
--- a/src/include/storage/irc_schema_set.hpp
+++ b/src/include/storage/irc_schema_set.hpp
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ class IRCSchemaSet {
 
 public:
 	void LoadEntries(ClientContext &context);
-	optional_ptr<CatalogEntry> GetEntry(ClientContext &context, const string &name);
+	optional_ptr<CatalogEntry> GetEntry(ClientContext &context, const string &name, OnEntryNotFound if_not_found);
 	void Scan(ClientContext &context, const std::function<void(CatalogEntry &)> &callback);
 
 protected:
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ class IRCSchemaSet {
 public:
 	Catalog &catalog;
 	case_insensitive_map_t<unique_ptr<CatalogEntry>> entries;
+	//! Whether a listing has been done for the catalog
+	bool listed = false;
 
 private:
 	mutex entry_lock;
diff --git a/src/include/storage/irc_table_set.hpp b/src/include/storage/irc_table_set.hpp
index 79a3029d..41735160 100644
--- a/src/include/storage/irc_table_set.hpp
+++ b/src/include/storage/irc_table_set.hpp
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ class ICTableSet {
 	IRCSchemaEntry &schema;
 	Catalog &catalog;
 	case_insensitive_map_t<IcebergTableInformation> entries;
+	//! Whether a listing is done for this transaction
+	bool listed = false;
 
 private:
 	mutex entry_lock;
diff --git a/src/storage/authorization/none.cpp b/src/storage/authorization/none.cpp
index 7c32ac48..191a19c8 100644
--- a/src/storage/authorization/none.cpp
+++ b/src/storage/authorization/none.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> NoneAuthorization::GetRequest(ClientContext &context,
 	return APIUtils::GetRequest(context, endpoint_builder, "");
 }
 
+unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> NoneAuthorization::HeadRequest(ClientContext &context,
+                                                        const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) {
+	return APIUtils::HeadRequest(context, endpoint_builder, "");
+}
+
 unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> NoneAuthorization::DeleteRequest(ClientContext &context,
                                                           const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) {
 	return APIUtils::DeleteRequest(context, endpoint_builder, "");
diff --git a/src/storage/authorization/oauth2.cpp b/src/storage/authorization/oauth2.cpp
index b465d5f8..f7c5e1e8 100644
--- a/src/storage/authorization/oauth2.cpp
+++ b/src/storage/authorization/oauth2.cpp
@@ -103,6 +103,11 @@ unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> OAuth2Authorization::GetRequest(ClientContext &context,
 	return APIUtils::GetRequest(context, endpoint_builder, token);
 }
 
+unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> OAuth2Authorization::HeadRequest(ClientContext &context,
+                                                          const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) {
+	return APIUtils::HeadRequest(context, endpoint_builder, token);
+}
+
 unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> OAuth2Authorization::DeleteRequest(ClientContext &context,
                                                             const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) {
 	return APIUtils::DeleteRequest(context, endpoint_builder, token);
diff --git a/src/storage/authorization/sigv4.cpp b/src/storage/authorization/sigv4.cpp
index 0d6681a4..3e57f6f0 100644
--- a/src/storage/authorization/sigv4.cpp
+++ b/src/storage/authorization/sigv4.cpp
@@ -114,6 +114,12 @@ unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> SIGV4Authorization::GetRequest(ClientContext &context,
 	return aws_input.GetRequest(context);
 }
 
+unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> SIGV4Authorization::HeadRequest(ClientContext &context,
+                                                         const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) {
+	AWSInput aws_input = CreateAWSInput(context, endpoint_builder);
+	return aws_input.HeadRequest(context);
+}
+
 unique_ptr<HTTPResponse> SIGV4Authorization::DeleteRequest(ClientContext &context,
                                                            const IRCEndpointBuilder &endpoint_builder) {
 	AWSInput aws_input = CreateAWSInput(context, endpoint_builder);
diff --git a/src/storage/irc_catalog.cpp b/src/storage/irc_catalog.cpp
index 09f19a89..3029731f 100644
--- a/src/storage/irc_catalog.cpp
+++ b/src/storage/irc_catalog.cpp
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ optional_ptr<SchemaCatalogEntry> IRCatalog::LookupSchema(CatalogTransaction tran
 	auto &schemas = irc_transaction.GetSchemas();
 
 	auto &schema_name = schema_lookup.GetEntryName();
-	auto entry = schemas.GetEntry(transaction.GetContext(), schema_name);
+	auto entry = schemas.GetEntry(transaction.GetContext(), schema_name, if_not_found);
 	if (!entry && if_not_found != OnEntryNotFound::RETURN_NULL) {
 		throw CatalogException(schema_lookup.GetErrorContext(), "Schema with name \"%s\" not found", schema_name);
 	}
@@ -318,41 +318,6 @@ void IRCatalog::GetConfig(ClientContext &context, IcebergEndpointType &endpoint_
 	}
 }
 
-string IRCatalog::OptionalGetCachedValue(const string &url) {
-	std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(metadata_cache_mutex);
-	auto value = metadata_cache.find(url);
-	if (value != metadata_cache.end()) {
-		auto now = system_clock::now();
-		if (now < value->second->expires_at) {
-			return value->second->data;
-		}
-	}
-	return "";
-}
-
-bool IRCatalog::SetCachedValue(const string &url, const string &value,
-                               const rest_api_objects::LoadTableResult &result) {
-	//! FIXME: shouldn't this also store the 'storage-credentials' ??
-	if (!result.has_config) {
-		return false;
-	}
-	auto &credentials = result.config;
-	auto expires_at_it = credentials.find("s3.session-token-expires-at-ms");
-	if (expires_at_it == credentials.end()) {
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	auto &expires_at = expires_at_it->second;
-	auto epochMillis = std::stoll(expires_at);
-	auto expired_time = system_clock::time_point(milliseconds(epochMillis));
-	auto val = make_uniq<MetadataCacheValue>(value, expired_time);
-	{
-		std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(metadata_cache_mutex);
-		metadata_cache[url] = std::move(val);
-	}
-	return true;
-}
-
 //===--------------------------------------------------------------------===//
 // Attach
 //===--------------------------------------------------------------------===//
diff --git a/src/storage/irc_schema_set.cpp b/src/storage/irc_schema_set.cpp
index af72d17c..f916e308 100644
--- a/src/storage/irc_schema_set.cpp
+++ b/src/storage/irc_schema_set.cpp
@@ -11,12 +11,28 @@ namespace duckdb {
 IRCSchemaSet::IRCSchemaSet(Catalog &catalog) : catalog(catalog) {
 }
 
-optional_ptr<CatalogEntry> IRCSchemaSet::GetEntry(ClientContext &context, const string &name) {
-	LoadEntries(context);
+optional_ptr<CatalogEntry> IRCSchemaSet::GetEntry(ClientContext &context, const string &name,
+                                                  OnEntryNotFound if_not_found) {
 	lock_guard<mutex> l(entry_lock);
+	auto &ic_catalog = catalog.Cast<IRCatalog>();
+
 	auto entry = entries.find(name);
 	if (entry == entries.end()) {
-		return nullptr;
+		CreateSchemaInfo info;
+		if (!IRCAPI::VerifySchemaExistence(context, ic_catalog, name)) {
+			if (if_not_found == OnEntryNotFound::RETURN_NULL) {
+				return nullptr;
+			} else {
+				throw CatalogException("Iceberg namespace by the name of '%s' does not exist", name);
+			}
+		}
+		info.schema = name;
+		info.internal = false;
+		auto schema_entry = make_uniq<IRCSchemaEntry>(catalog, info);
+		schema_entry->namespace_items = IRCAPI::ParseSchemaName(name);
+		CreateEntryInternal(context, std::move(schema_entry));
+		entry = entries.find(name);
+		D_ASSERT(entry != entries.end());
 	}
 	return entry->second.get();
 }
@@ -34,7 +50,7 @@ static string GetSchemaName(const vector<string> &items) {
 }
 
 void IRCSchemaSet::LoadEntries(ClientContext &context) {
-	if (!entries.empty()) {
+	if (listed) {
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -48,6 +64,7 @@ void IRCSchemaSet::LoadEntries(ClientContext &context) {
 		schema_entry->namespace_items = std::move(schema.items);
 		CreateEntryInternal(context, std::move(schema_entry));
 	}
+	listed = true;
 }
 
 optional_ptr<CatalogEntry> IRCSchemaSet::CreateEntryInternal(ClientContext &context, unique_ptr<CatalogEntry> entry) {
diff --git a/src/storage/irc_table_set.cpp b/src/storage/irc_table_set.cpp
index e8a77f51..862a9a1b 100644
--- a/src/storage/irc_table_set.cpp
+++ b/src/storage/irc_table_set.cpp
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ ICTableSet::ICTableSet(IRCSchemaEntry &schema) : schema(schema), catalog(schema.
 
 void ICTableSet::FillEntry(ClientContext &context, IcebergTableInformation &table) {
 	if (!table.schema_versions.empty()) {
-		//! Already filled
 		return;
 	}
 
@@ -57,17 +56,20 @@ void ICTableSet::Scan(ClientContext &context, const std::function<void(CatalogEn
 }
 
 void ICTableSet::LoadEntries(ClientContext &context) {
-	if (!entries.empty()) {
+	if (listed) {
 		return;
 	}
 
 	auto &ic_catalog = catalog.Cast<IRCatalog>();
-	// TODO: handle out-of-order columns using position property
 	auto tables = IRCAPI::GetTables(context, ic_catalog, schema);
 
 	for (auto &table : tables) {
-		entries.emplace(table.name, IcebergTableInformation(ic_catalog, schema, table.name));
+		auto entry_it = entries.find(table.name);
+		if (entry_it == entries.end()) {
+			entries.emplace(table.name, IcebergTableInformation(ic_catalog, schema, table.name));
+		}
 	}
+	listed = true;
 }
 
 void ICTableSet::CreateNewEntry(ClientContext &context, IRCatalog &catalog, IRCSchemaEntry &schema,
@@ -121,11 +123,17 @@ unique_ptr<ICTableInfo> ICTableSet::GetTableInfo(ClientContext &context, IRCSche
 }
 
 optional_ptr<CatalogEntry> ICTableSet::GetEntry(ClientContext &context, const EntryLookupInfo &lookup) {
-	LoadEntries(context);
 	lock_guard<mutex> l(entry_lock);
-	auto entry = entries.find(lookup.GetEntryName());
+	auto &ic_catalog = catalog.Cast<IRCatalog>();
+
+	auto table_name = lookup.GetEntryName();
+	auto entry = entries.find(table_name);
 	if (entry == entries.end()) {
-		return nullptr;
+		if (!IRCAPI::VerifyTableExistence(context, ic_catalog, schema, table_name)) {
+			return nullptr;
+		}
+		auto it = entries.emplace(table_name, IcebergTableInformation(ic_catalog, schema, table_name));
+		entry = it.first;
 	}
 	if (entry->second.transaction_data && entry->second.transaction_data->is_deleted) {
 		return nullptr;
diff --git a/test/sql/local/irc/iceberg_catalog_eager_refresh.test b/test/sql/local/irc/iceberg_catalog_eager_refresh.test
index 43a9ad0c..f94ac8ce 100644
--- a/test/sql/local/irc/iceberg_catalog_eager_refresh.test
+++ b/test/sql/local/irc/iceberg_catalog_eager_refresh.test
@@ -58,8 +58,6 @@ select * from my_datalake.default.table_more_deletes order by all;
 query II
 SELECT request.url, response.reason FROM duckdb_logs_parsed('HTTP') WHERE request.type='GET' AND (request.url).starts_with('http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/') order by timestamp
 ----
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces	OK
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables	OK
 http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables/table_unpartitioned	OK
 http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables/table_more_deletes	OK
 
@@ -91,9 +89,5 @@ select * from my_datalake.default.table_more_deletes order by all;
 query II
 SELECT request.url, response.reason FROM duckdb_logs_parsed('HTTP') WHERE request.type='GET' AND (request.url).starts_with('http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/') order by timestamp
 ----
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces	OK
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables	OK
 http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables/table_more_deletes	OK
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces	OK
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables	OK
 http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables/table_more_deletes	OK
diff --git a/test/sql/local/irc/iceberg_catalog_read.test b/test/sql/local/irc/iceberg_catalog_read.test
index 929d70de..dc1d7dfe 100644
--- a/test/sql/local/irc/iceberg_catalog_read.test
+++ b/test/sql/local/irc/iceberg_catalog_read.test
@@ -88,11 +88,7 @@ select * from my_datalake.default.table_more_deletes order by all;
 query II
 SELECT request.url, response.reason FROM duckdb_logs_parsed('HTTP') WHERE request.type='GET' AND (request.url).starts_with('http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/') order by timestamp
 ----
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces	OK
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables	OK
 http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables/table_unpartitioned	OK
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces	OK
-http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables	OK
 http://127.0.0.1:8181/v1/namespaces/default/tables/table_more_deletes	OK
 
 query I
diff --git a/test/sql/local/irc/test_minimal_head_requests.test b/test/sql/local/irc/test_minimal_head_requests.test
index eff4496a..5114f8eb 100644
--- a/test/sql/local/irc/test_minimal_head_requests.test
+++ b/test/sql/local/irc/test_minimal_head_requests.test
@@ -54,11 +54,11 @@ select * from my_datalake.default.table_unpartitioned order by all;
 2023-03-11	11	k
 2023-03-12	12	l
 
-# 0 head requests to all files
+# 2 head requests to scan all files (1 for the schema, 1 for the table)
 query I
 select count(*) from duckdb_logs_parsed('HTTP') where request.type = 'HEAD';
 ----
-0
+2
 
 # only 13 get requests
 query I nosort get_count_1
@@ -85,11 +85,11 @@ select * from my_datalake.default.table_unpartitioned order by all;
 2023-03-12	12	l
 
 
-# after reading the same table, still no head requests
+# after reading the same table, only 2 more head requests (because of new transactions)
 query I
 select count(*) from duckdb_logs_parsed('HTTP') where request.type = 'HEAD';
 ----
-0
+4
 
 # same amount of get calls
 query I nosort get_count_1
diff --git a/test/sql/local/irc/test_use.test b/test/sql/local/irc/test_use.test
index f48e6eef..f5c3ae55 100644
--- a/test/sql/local/irc/test_use.test
+++ b/test/sql/local/irc/test_use.test
@@ -38,17 +38,17 @@ ATTACH '' AS my_datalake (
 statement ok
 use my_datalake.default;
 
-# need catalog and schema name for use.
+# schema will default to 'main', which doesnt exist
 statement error
 use my_datalake;
 ----
-Catalog Error
+Catalog Error: SET schema: No catalog + schema named "my_datalake" found.
 
-# even after showing all tables. use statement needs catalog + schema.
 statement ok
 show all tables;
 
+# 'main' still doesn't exist
 statement error
 use my_datalake;
 ----
-Catalog Error
\ No newline at end of file
+Catalog Error: SET schema: No catalog + schema named "my_datalake" found.